It’s always a good feeling to find a good app. There should be at least one in the following collection that makes you feel that way.
Most of the apps are optimized for touch operation, aka Modern apps. There are a couple of good utilities, one app for the kitchen, and others to help get the most out of your Windows system. There’s even an app for those who’ve recently migrated to Windows from other mobile platforms to help them find good apps.
Many of the apps are free and the others are just a few dollars. There's no need to break the bank to get good utility out of your Windows 8 laptop or tablet.
See also:
Tweetium for Windows 8.1: Best mobile Twitter app (review)
Both Android and iOS support grouping similar apps in folders by dragging one app on top of another. Bins does the same thing on the Windows 8 taskbar.
You can use Bins to organize your most-used apps any way you like using the drag-and-drop method. Created folders reside on the taskbar. Tapping or hovering over a folder opens a popup so you can access the collected apps.
This app brings a nice touch interface to the USA Today news site. You have articles, images, and videos literally at your fingertips.
It is easy to find articles of interest using an enjoyable touch interface. You can share articles with friends using the Windows 8 Share charm.
From the developer:
Features
This is one of the best weather apps on any platform. The beautiful interface puts a wealth of information at your fingers, with good touch control.
From the developer:
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This popular service lets you reserve a table in many restaurants. The app has a great touch interface to make this simple and enjoyable.
From the developer:
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Want to control Windows by touch gestures? This app lets you build gestures to do just that. As clear from the read-me, it only builds the gestures and exports them in a file to work with gesture engines for execution (links to engines included with this app).
From the developer:
***READ THIS FIRST****
The sole purpose of TouchMe Gesture Studio is to enable you to create, edit, and export a customized gesture file and that’s it! This app does not and never will contain the gesture engine that actually brings those gestures to life. However, there is a convenient link within the app to obtain the engine. The engine is free to use for 32 days; after that you can either purchase a full license for the engine or continue to use it for free for up to three gestures.
If the complexity of Photoshop makes you run screaming from the room when all you need to do is touch up your photos, Photoshop Express may be what you need.
The app handles typical functions for working with images, like adjustments for contrast and applying filters.
For those who aren’t comfortable using any app with Photoshop in the name, there’s another app even easier to use later in this collection.
From the developer:
Features
*available as in-app purchases. The Adobe Looks Pack gives your photos fun, fresh looks with even more one-touch filters.
**The Adobe Noise Reduction Pack minimizes unwanted grain and speckling in your photos
If you want to watch YouTube videos in a Windows Metro interface, this app is for you.
From the developer:
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With a database of over 50,000 recipes, this app is at home in the kitchen. There are tools to help you find just what you’re craving, including recommending dishes that will use the ingredients you already have.
From the developer:
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For simple photo editing, this app is as easy as it gets. It features all the expected editing functions, and presents them in a simple touch interface. There are also some more advanced features that will help you turn that photo into a real masterpiece.
From the developer:
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Not every app on Android, BlackBerry, or iOS is available for Windows 8, so this app is aimed at those migrating from other platforms. Just search for your app on the other platform and AppSwitch will show you an equivalent app on Windows 8.
From the developer:
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